Saturday, August 31, 2013

Wapsie Reunion


The timing was not good, as it was the first weekend after school had started, but I'm so glad we went to the Camp Wapsie staff reunion. The last time we were at camp was for a reunion as well. I was pregnant with Henry at the time. So this is the very first time any of the kids have been to Wapsie. 
 While we were there we had so much fun, just seeing friends and trying out all of the activities. The first thing we did, after saying Hi to folks at the outdoor chapel, was to head down to canoeing. There was a current staff member down there (named Clara!) who brought our some frog catching nets for the kids.
 Henry enjoyed the Burma Bridge. I wouldn't let him go all the way across, though, because we did not have clothes to change into if he fell.

 Looking back on the pictures now, I just feel so full of emotion. I can't think of a way to say it, without sounding really corny. But it just is so amazing to see my children enjoying a place that maybe feels more "home" to me than just about anywhere. Camp is so full of love and happiness and comfort for me. This picture of them eating their banana boats is maybe my favorite.
 Although, this picture is also pretty great. Darcie was in the middle of teaching Henry and Clara how to make warm fuzzies. She was chastising me for the kids not knowing what warm fuzzies were.
 Here we are with Frederick sleeping on my back. I was helping Henry and Clara pound designs into little leather turtles.

Archery was a challenge for Henry. He wanted to be good at it right away, and of course, it's a difficult thing to do! He did eventually get an arrow on the target, but not before his sister did, which did not make him very happy. 
 Here we are, eating in the lodge. We were all hungry enough for several tacos. Mostly I just love how Frederick is peeking up over the table.
 The kids wanted to come up with me when I went up to help with the meal program.
 It was hot in the lodge, which we all agreed we would have handled much better back in the day. It was still fun to be loud and sing our songs. The non-camp spouses may not have thought we were a little crazy....but they knew that when they married us.
 After lunch we went back to the outdoor chapel for a group photo.

 The same old picture lady was there (though I shouldn't say 'old,' she was looking great) and she took some family and group shots for us. She snapped this one with my camera without me even having to ask! I love how Frederick is grabbing his toes, and I just love the photo of my whole family at camp.
 Clara, Kirin and Henry were great pals all day.
 They would have spent more time frogging, but then we found out that the pool was opening up early. Yay Pool!
 We all spent a couple hours just floating around in the pool. Kirin, Henry and Clara found lots of little toads to "rescue." Frederick had a little nap in his stroller after his swim. The big kids and I went to change and find a little treat at the store. After some playing at the teepee village and on the volleyball court it was time for dinner. There was more singing...
 ...and a little kissing.
We didn't stick around for the wish stick fire. I would have really liked to, but it was late and we were worn out. By the time we got back to Mom's, the kids were wiped out. I love this photo, because it looks like they fell asleep holding hands....and that's totally the Wapsie spirit. 

Thursday, August 29, 2013

Back to School!

The 3 of us had to go back to school. 

 I don't know if Pete told them to do this, but I love it. 
 And this series of 3 cracks me up...


 Here they go! I missed this part, because I was already at work. 

 Kindergarten, watch out!!

Traverse City

For our 10th anniversary Pete and I decided to take a family vacation to Traverse City, Michigan. It was a great decision. Our weather was awesome and it made for a perfect end to our summer. A bit of a last hurrah before I went back to work, the kids went to school and the baby started child care. 
 We had dinner and ice cream and stayed in Holland on the way up. 
 We got to Traverse City on our anniversary. Had lunch at a cute place called The Dish and then went to the beach. 


 That night we all dressed up and had a nice dinner at Poppycock's. 
 Pete and I shared a bottle of some local bubbly wine. It was delicious. Frederick wanted to try some. Actually, he had a tiny lick, and we let each of the kids try a teeny sip. It's ten years!
 Dinner was early, and when we walked outside there was a street fair going on. The kids got to do Clara's favorite thing in the world and have their faces painted. 
 Saturday morning we went to Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. It was beautiful and I wish we had had more time to spend there. The kids became Jr. Rangers again and added a pin to their backpacks. 

 Did I mention we had great weather? 
 Saturday we went out to Old Mission Peninsula for dinner. We checked out this cool old lighthouse first. 
 Pete said he made me this, but I never noticed him sneaking away...
 We had dinner at The Jolly Pumpkin and then sat around for a while waiting to see the lovely sunset. 
 Sunset light...
10 years. We feel pretty lucky. 

Monday, August 12, 2013

The Beach

We finally found a day that was lovely for the beach. Unfortunately, the E.Coli. also thought it was a good day, so the water was closed. Bummer. We still had fun, but it would have been great to swim a little. Here are my 3 beach bums. 
 Frederick really enjoyed the sand. Clara enjoyed burying his feet.
 He did eat a bit too. That probably wasn't the best, what with the E.Coli....
 Here's our spread. It filled up a bit more later, but I love this peaceful picture of Mom and the water.
 Mom shared her plum with Frederick, who quite enjoyed it.
 This is one of my new favorite pictures, and is now my desktop on my work computer.
 This one just cracks me up.

 The next night we built a fire out back and roasted some marshmallows for s'mores. We tried to stay up late to catch some falling stars from the Perseid meteor shower, but it got too cloudy and we all got too tired.
 Fritz did enjoy his evening porch time, though.